Subject:
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Why I kept my age a secret
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.people.teens
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Date:
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Fri, 24 Sep 2004 00:19:27 GMT
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Hey everybody. (follow-up to the first post in .teen
http://news.lugnet.com/people/teens/?n=3)
I discovered Lugnet when I was about 13. It was the single coolest website I
had ever seen. I wanted to join in as soon as possible, but while lurking, I
realized certain things.
Firstly, Lugnet was designed with adults in mind, not children. I felt I didn’t
belong there; it wasn’t intended for my use.
Secondly, I detected a certain condescending attitude towards younger members.
They seemed to be slightly ostracized, and younger members were often ridiculed
for their grammar and spelling.
Finally, and most importantly, I saw that MOCs built by younger members were
judged differently then MOCs by adults.
Basically, it seemed to me that the kids were treated a whole lot differently
than the adults, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t want to post a MOC, and read
comments like “that’s good, for a kid”
So when I decided to join in the discussion, I vowed to act in the most
adult-like manner possible. I would not reveal my age in any way. I would be a
mystery, and I figured people would simply assume that I was older.
To make the illusion work, I also had to make sure my MOCs were up-to-par. I
observed, saved pictures of interesting techniques, and absorbed as much
knowledge and skill I possibly could. Between my discovery of Lugnet and the
posting of my first MOC, I built often, practicing and gaining experience.
It took about 3 years to finally make something I was proud enough to show
(http://news.lugnet.com/castle/?n=15621).
It worked. I was viewed just like everyone else. My MOCs received the same
praise and criticism as everyone else’s.
I first revealed my true age to my fellow admins at Classic-Castle, and was
pleased to read that all but Troy C thought I was between 20 and 25, not the 16
I actually was.
Anyway, I forgot what this post was about. Perhaps it gives validity to having
a .teens. Perhaps it shows how I, and perhaps many others, felt that teenagers
did not belong.
FYI, I now believe it’s the maturity displayed, not the actual age, that
matters.
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: Why I kept my age a secret
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| (...) Cool! I wish more teens realized they CAN participate in the adult world if they only try. Sure, it's cool to be a teen with your friends most of the time, but it's also cool to be an adult. I had a similarly empowering experience as a teen. I (...) (20 years ago, 24-Sep-04, to lugnet.people.teens)
| | | Re: Why I kept my age a secret
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| (...) When I joined Lugnet, I was around 13 too. And now I'm 15. At first, I just joined as the little immature kid I was, posting a bad rendering into .trains and then posting crummy webcam pics into .castle (oddly enough, after a month I've never (...) (20 years ago, 25-Sep-04, to lugnet.people.teens)
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